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Rat Sandwich Message Board > Mine chat > South Wales Iron Mine, April 2012

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cunningcorgi Senior Member Posts : 71 Location : Status : Offline	South Wales Iron Mine, April 2012 Visited with walsh. HISTORY Although it is thought that iron-making in this area dates back to Roman times it is not known to what extent this body of haematite was worked at that time or indeed in the period leading up to the end of the 18th century. The exploitation of the mine started in earnest in the early years of the 19th century. The term 'mine' is used advisedly as although the workings of the four main entries commenced at the surface and progressed downwards following the haematite ore and could, therefore, be described as quarries, the extent of the workings eventually necessitated the linking-up of these below ground by a maze of caverns and staple shafts. Some of the caverns were eventually excavated to impressive dimensions - one being estimated to have been about 200ft long, 100ft wide and 70ft high and not a support in sight. The overall depth of the workings in 1884, at time of abandonment, was approximately 400ft. The main pit was some 120ft diameter at the surface. Initially the mine was worked by sheer muscle power and the liberal use of black-powder with horse- powered windlass as the means for raising the ore and spoil from the depths. The ore was then transported by packhorses via tracks down the steep wooded hillside to the furnaces at an iron-works. The packhorses were to be replaced by a horse drawn tramway connecting to a lower level tramway. Some stone sleepers of the inclined tramway can still be seen in the woods. A steam engine replaced the horse-drawn windlass for raising the ore and spoil from the mine to the hilltop. Between 1842, with some fifty men and boys employed, and 1860 the mine received substantial investment. This included the driving of a 400yd long rock tunnel heading south-eastwards from the low level tramway to intersect the main working chamber some 200ft below the top surface level. This served as an easier and shorter horse drawn rail access to and from the mine and was situated close to the furnaces, doing away with the high level tramway. The tunnel also provided a much needed drainage outlet from the mine at this depth in conjunction with a Cornish beam pump to dewater the lower workings. In the early 1870's the output of ore from the mine was approx. 15,000 tons a year and capable of increase from caverns mined below the tunnel level together with some 265 tons of high-grade ochre, prepared at Melingriffith for sale to paint manufacturers in Bristol. Such was the scale of the mine at this time that curious Victorian travellers from far and near were given conducted tours of the caverns. It was a rabbit warren both horizontally and vertically. The mine must have been worked by men and boys filling baskets and manhandling these to lifting points within the pits. The mine was officially abandoned in June 1884 due to its inability to financially adapt to the new market for steel, by which time it is estimated some 700,000 tons of haematite had been removed by hand over the lifetime of the mine (some estimates are as high as 1,000,000 tons). From 1880 to 1884 the mine was producing only yellow ochre and operated by the liquidators producing 127 tons in 1880 and a mere 11 tons at time of closure. In 1926 the mine was partly reopened on a short lease. This under-funded enterprise ceased eventually in 1936, after employing on average only 6 or 7 men, and the lease was taken over to mine the haematite but this venture also ceased within the same year. For another short spell in 1937 10 men were employed to mine haematite but this venture also fizzled out and the mine was left to re-flood. The mine enjoyed its final period of use during WW2 when it was used to store anti-aircraft shells etc in the high caverns, serviced by small diesel locos. To achieve this much debris was cleared out and dumped into the flooded lower section of the mine. Security fences and guard posts were erected, the remains of some of these still being visible near the tunnel entrance. Following the war the mine was left to itself with only curious locals, students, cavers and foxes venturing in. During the 1950?s local people with an interest in its history attempted to have the mine preserved as a tourist attraction but the then owners, weren't interested. A similar campaign during the 1990's to obtain Heritage protection for the site via the local MP and CADW also seems to have failed. THE VISIT 1. The main adit entrance. 2. The main entrance adit continues. 3. Drill marks and calcite combine on an adit wall. 4. The main entrance adit just keeps on going ! 5. A side adit with a pump still in situ. 6. The pump pipe is still there and heads off on a journey up the adit. 7. The pipe on its journey. 8. The pipe goes past a platform but what is beyond it ? 9. A blue lake lies beyond. The first view. 10. The blue chamber lake lit by the light filtering through from the adjacent quarry. The pipe continues its journey on the left... 11. ...and out it goes to the adjacent quarry. 12. A view back the way we came. 13. End of the line as the adit is backfilled. 14. Another side adit off the main adit complete with a platform. 15. View from the platform in the side adit - into another chamber with a blue water lake. 16. View down a second substantial adit. 17. The second adit ends abruptly as it has been backfilled. 18. Calcite formations of an adit wall. 19. Calcite tears. 20. More colourisation on the adit wall on the way out. 21. A last view into the old Iron mine. After this we headed off to Big Pit, a preserved South Wales coal mine and did the underground tour. Sadly, no cameras allowed down there ! Thanks for looking and any commenst / advice most welcome. ----------------------
Sun 01 Apr 2012 @ 21:19
mike1 Junior Member Posts : 3 Location : Status : Offline	what part of the county is this mine, and when did it cease production? All the electric lights in the last shot look quite modern...mike
Fri 06 Apr 2012 @ 18:48
ratty Admin Posts : 96 Location : Pontypridd Status : Offline	It's just north of Cardiff. I heard it was sometimes opened for group trips/dives so maybe that's what the lights were installed for? ---------------------- Ratty http://www.ratsandwich.co.uk
Fri 06 Apr 2012 @ 19:57
mike1 Junior Member Posts : 3 Location : Status : Offline	thanks ratty, it looks by cunning corgis first shot that it is very secure, but where is it in terms of nearest village etc, i,ve been completely captivated by all these hidden gems. I,m not as motivated as some of the site participants, i,m retired, but i,ve got a lot of other priorities. (unfortunately!). I,ll keep watching with interest
Sat 07 Apr 2012 @ 00:04
mike1 Junior Member Posts : 3 Location : Status : Offline	another thing, all the scaffolding platforms, look fairly new(ish) so is this site open occasionally for interested parties ?
Sat 07 Apr 2012 @ 00:13
ratty Admin Posts : 96 Location : Pontypridd Status : Offline	The nearest villages are Gwaelod-y-Garth and Pentyrch. As far as I know the door in the first picture is locked. The only access is by climbing down the slope in pic 10. I don't know if any access is still allowed. I believe it was occasionally opened to organised parties but haven't heard of anything for a long time. ---------------------- Ratty http://www.ratsandwich.co.uk
Sat 07 Apr 2012 @ 09:42
cunningcorgi Senior Member Posts : 71 Location : Status : Offline	Mike - I don't think the mine was worked for a long time but the adjacent quarry was taking water for its washery ! That seems to have stopped now as the puimp is screwed. I assume the lights were there for when this was happening. The platforms were installed by divers who were diving the lake. The quarry got sick of them so gated and locked the adit. Ratty - we saw the gate and walked up to it just to see if we could see in. Pulled the door and hey presto, it opened ! The copper monkies has axle grinded the lock off. Access should still be possible today there.
Sat 07 Apr 2012 @ 09:57
ratty Admin Posts : 96 Location : Pontypridd Status : Offline	cunningcorgi wrote: we saw the gate and walked up to it just to see if we could see in. Pulled the door and hey presto, it opened ! The copper monkies has axle grinded the lock off. Access should still be possible today there. Bugger - I've already promised the wife and kids I would take them somewhere Sunday/Monday and I'm off away again early Tuesday. Let's just hope it's still open next weekend. ---------------------- Ratty http://www.ratsandwich.co.uk
Sat 07 Apr 2012 @ 15:41
Crunchbunch Member Posts : 11 Location : Status : Offline	Don't panic. The large stone that blocked the door was moved before Christmas time 2010.
Wed 11 Apr 2012 @ 00:07
Time in GMT

Author

Message

cunningcorgi
Senior Member
Posts : 71
Location :
Status : Offline

South Wales Iron Mine, April 2012

Visited with walsh.

HISTORY

Although it is thought that iron-making in this area dates back to Roman times it is not known to what extent this body of haematite was worked at that time or indeed in the period leading up to the end of the 18th century. The exploitation of the mine started in earnest in the early years of the 19th century. The term 'mine' is used advisedly as although the workings of the four main entries commenced at the surface and progressed downwards following the haematite ore and could, therefore, be described as quarries, the extent of the workings eventually necessitated the linking-up of these below ground by a maze of caverns and staple shafts. Some of the caverns were eventually excavated to impressive dimensions - one being estimated to have been about 200ft long, 100ft wide and 70ft high and not a support in sight. The overall depth of the workings in 1884, at time of abandonment, was approximately 400ft. The main pit was some 120ft diameter at the surface.

Initially the mine was worked by sheer muscle power and the liberal use of black-powder with horse- powered windlass as the means for raising the ore and spoil from the depths. The ore was then transported by packhorses via tracks down the steep wooded hillside to the furnaces at an iron-works. The packhorses were to be replaced by a horse drawn tramway connecting to a lower level tramway. Some stone sleepers of the inclined tramway can still be seen in the woods. A steam engine replaced the horse-drawn windlass for raising the ore and spoil from the mine to the hilltop.

Between 1842, with some fifty men and boys employed, and 1860 the mine received substantial investment. This included the driving of a 400yd long rock tunnel heading south-eastwards from the low level tramway to intersect the main working chamber some 200ft below the top surface level. This served as an easier and shorter horse drawn rail access to and from the mine and was situated close to the furnaces, doing away with the high level tramway. The tunnel also provided a much needed drainage outlet from the mine at this depth in conjunction with a Cornish beam pump to dewater the lower workings. In the early 1870's the output of ore from the mine was approx. 15,000 tons a year and capable of increase from caverns mined below the tunnel level together with some 265 tons of high-grade ochre, prepared at Melingriffith for sale to paint manufacturers in Bristol.

Such was the scale of the mine at this time that curious Victorian travellers from far and near were given conducted tours of the caverns. It was a rabbit warren both horizontally and vertically. The mine must have been worked by men and boys filling baskets and manhandling these to lifting points within the pits. The mine was officially abandoned in June 1884 due to its inability to financially adapt to the new market for steel, by which time it is estimated some 700,000 tons of haematite had been removed by hand over the lifetime of the mine (some estimates are as high as 1,000,000 tons). From 1880 to 1884 the mine was producing only yellow ochre and operated by the liquidators producing 127 tons in 1880 and a mere 11 tons at time of closure.

In 1926 the mine was partly reopened on a short lease. This under-funded enterprise ceased eventually in 1936, after employing on average only 6 or 7 men, and the lease was taken over to mine the haematite but this venture also ceased within the same year. For another short spell in 1937 10 men were employed to mine haematite but this venture also fizzled out and the mine was left to re-flood. The mine enjoyed its final period of use during WW2 when it was used to store anti-aircraft shells etc in the high caverns, serviced by small diesel locos. To achieve this much debris was cleared out and dumped into the flooded lower section of the mine. Security fences and guard posts were erected, the remains of some of these still being visible near the tunnel entrance.

Following the war the mine was left to itself with only curious locals, students, cavers and foxes venturing in. During the 1950?s local people with an interest in its history attempted to have the mine preserved as a tourist attraction but the then owners, weren't interested. A similar campaign during the 1990's to obtain Heritage protection for the site via the local MP and CADW also seems to have failed.

THE VISIT

1. The main adit entrance.

2. The main entrance adit continues.

3. Drill marks and calcite combine on an adit wall.

4. The main entrance adit just keeps on going !

5. A side adit with a pump still in situ.

6. The pump pipe is still there and heads off on a journey up the adit.

7. The pipe on its journey.

8. The pipe goes past a platform but what is beyond it ?

9. A blue lake lies beyond. The first view.

10. The blue chamber lake lit by the light filtering through from the adjacent quarry. The pipe continues its journey on the left...

11. ...and out it goes to the adjacent quarry.

12. A view back the way we came.

13. End of the line as the adit is backfilled.

14. Another side adit off the main adit complete with a platform.

15. View from the platform in the side adit - into another chamber with a blue water lake.

16. View down a second substantial adit.

17. The second adit ends abruptly as it has been backfilled.

18. Calcite formations of an adit wall.

19. Calcite tears.

20. More colourisation on the adit wall on the way out.

21. A last view into the old Iron mine.

After this we headed off to Big Pit, a preserved South Wales coal mine and did the underground tour. Sadly, no cameras allowed down there !

Thanks for looking and any commenst / advice most welcome.

----------------------

Sun 01 Apr 2012 @ 21:19

mike1
Junior Member
Posts : 3
Location :
Status : Offline

what part of the county is this mine, and when did it cease production? All the electric lights in the last shot look quite modern...mike

Fri 06 Apr 2012 @ 18:48

ratty
Admin
Posts : 96
Location : Pontypridd
Status : Offline

It's just north of Cardiff. I heard it was sometimes opened for group trips/dives so maybe that's what the lights were installed for?

----------------------
Ratty
http://www.ratsandwich.co.uk

Fri 06 Apr 2012 @ 19:57

mike1
Junior Member
Posts : 3
Location :
Status : Offline

thanks ratty, it looks by cunning corgis first shot that it is very secure, but where is it in terms of nearest village etc, i,ve been completely captivated by all these hidden gems. I,m not as motivated as some of the site participants, i,m retired, but i,ve got a lot of other priorities. (unfortunately!). I,ll keep watching with interest

Sat 07 Apr 2012 @ 00:04

mike1
Junior Member
Posts : 3
Location :
Status : Offline

another thing, all the scaffolding platforms, look fairly new(ish) so is this site open occasionally for interested parties ?

Sat 07 Apr 2012 @ 00:13

ratty
Admin
Posts : 96
Location : Pontypridd
Status : Offline

The nearest villages are Gwaelod-y-Garth and Pentyrch. As far as I know the door in the first picture is locked. The only access is by climbing down the slope in pic 10. I don't know if any access is still allowed. I believe it was occasionally opened to organised parties but haven't heard of anything for a long time.

----------------------
Ratty
http://www.ratsandwich.co.uk

Sat 07 Apr 2012 @ 09:42

cunningcorgi
Senior Member
Posts : 71
Location :
Status : Offline

Mike - I don't think the mine was worked for a long time but the adjacent quarry was taking water for its washery ! That seems to have stopped now as the puimp is screwed. I assume the lights were there for when this was happening. The platforms were installed by divers who were diving the lake. The quarry got sick of them so gated and locked the adit.

Ratty - we saw the gate and walked up to it just to see if we could see in. Pulled the door and hey presto, it opened ! The copper monkies has axle grinded the lock off. Access should still be possible today there.

Sat 07 Apr 2012 @ 09:57

ratty
Admin
Posts : 96
Location : Pontypridd
Status : Offline

cunningcorgi wrote:

we saw the gate and walked up to it just to see if we could see in. Pulled the door and hey presto, it opened ! The copper monkies has axle grinded the lock off. Access should still be possible today there.

Bugger - I've already promised the wife and kids I would take them somewhere Sunday/Monday and I'm off away again early Tuesday. Let's just hope it's still open next weekend.

----------------------
Ratty
http://www.ratsandwich.co.uk

Sat 07 Apr 2012 @ 15:41

Crunchbunch
Member
Posts : 11
Location :
Status : Offline

Don't panic. The large stone that blocked the door was moved before Christmas time 2010.

Wed 11 Apr 2012 @ 00:07

Time in GMT

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